Singapore is a country that is made up of people from all different cultures and ethnicity - namely Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. This means that they take the best of their cuisines and merge it with the flavors of their locals to create new, exciting, and amazing dishes. There are so many must-try
Halal food in Singapore. The good news is most of them are affordable and easily attainable; and all of them are mouthwateringly delicious!
1) Chilli Crab
Chilli Crab is one of the most iconic and must-try Singaporean food. It's a stir fried crab dish that is finished off with the most incredible sweet and spicy tomato-based sauce. Despite its name, it’s not always that spicy and each household/restaurant has its own version. If you’re wondering where to head to get the raved about Chilli Crab in Singapore, here are two of the popular spots: Kampong Chai Chee Restaurant and Sinaran Seafood Restaurant. Singapore Chilli Crab was also listed on
World’s Best Foods by CNN, so you know it’s one of the top Halal dishes in Singapore that you cannot miss!
2) Fish Head Curry
Fish head curry is a dish that is uniquely Singaporean, with a bit of a south Indian influence. Do you know that it is said to have been created by a man from Kerala, a state in South India, in a bid to impress the Chinese customers at his restaurant?
Interesting!
Whatever the beginning, all we can say is you cannot miss out on this delicious dish in Singapore. Close your eyes if the beady fish eyes discomfit you, and enjoy the spicy and tangy curry loaded with tomatoes, lady fingers, and brinjals. The Singapore Curry by Velu’s, Samy’s Curry, Springleaf Prata Place, and Zam Zam Restaurant are four awesome Halal places where you can try this remarkable dish!
3) Indian Rojak
This is one of the best Singaporean Halal food dishes that you definitely must try because you get a bit of everything with it! A Chinese variant of Rojak also exists, but the Indian Rojak has more kick in flavors from the Indian spices. Indian Rojak is a mix platter of sorts; it contains a blend of savory items like prawn fritters, fried eggs, tofu, potatoes and a delightfully sweet, sour, and spicy rojak sauce! You can easily get Indian Rojak at the hawker stalls in Singapore - Adhus Salam Rojak, Habib’s Rojak, Al Mahboob Rojak are three great recommendations.
4) Hainanese Chicken Rice
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BBC Hainanese Chicken Rice is one of Singapore’s national dishes, which is one of the reasons why it is a must-try Singapore food. The other reason is that it’s delicious, of course! Also featured on the
World’s Best Foods List by CNN, it consists of fluffy rice cooked in fragrant chicken stock, melt-in-your-mouth steamed chicken, chicken skin and a sweet chilli sauce. The best part is that this is one of the most wallet-friendly dishes you can get, and it will fill you right up. One of the best places to get this iconic dish is at Evertop Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice.
5) Sup Tulang Merah
Sup Tulang, meaning bone steak, is in its core is a dish of bones in gravy. Dig deeper and you’ll find that the bones are covered in tender meat and filled with delicious bone marrow, and the red sauce is all the things you could ask for in a gravy: sweet, spicy, salty, and definitely tasty! Don't forget to scrape the insides - those are some of the juiciest meats you would have ever tasted. Some of the most popular places to get Sup Tulang Merah are Haji Kadir & M Baharudeen Sup Tulang and M A Deen Biasa at the Golden Mile Food Centre, and Al Azhar.
6) Laksa
Also listed on
World’s Best Foods by CNN,
Laksa is a spicy noodle soup that comes from the Peranakan culture in Singapore. It contains either rice noodles or vermicelli, along with chicken, prawn or fish, served in a thick, spicy soup. There are so many different interpretations of this dish in Singapore, and each adaptation varies according to the ingredients used (coconut milk, pineapple, bean sprouts, type of meat, etc.). While you're in Singapore, be sure to try at least one version of this must-try Singapore dish - you can head over to Heavenly Wang or Janggut Laksa.
7) Satay
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Mummy I Can Cook Satay, is again, another entry in the
World’s Best Foods by CNN, and another must-try Halal dish in Singapore. Satay is made using bite-sized pieces of meat (chicken or beef), that are marinated in spices, skewered, and grilled to perfection. It is usually serves with a
peanut sauce. Although Satay is quite popular in Indonesia and Malaysia, it also has a keen following in Singapore. Go to the Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre and you'll be able find so many delicious varieties of mouthwatering Singaporean Satay! Street food is one of the best ways to experience any food culture, and the prices are pretty dang cheap!
8) Kaya Toast
Kaya Toast is a popular Singaporean Halal dish that is served alongside tea or coffee, and is perfect for the morning. It’s basically bread, butter, and kaya jam - the bread is grilled on charcoal, the butter is spread on cold, and the jam is a traditional custard made using coconut milk, sugar, pandan leaves and eggs. Some of the best places to get this awesome Halal breakfast dish are Heavenly Wang and PappaMia.
9) Prata
Prata is a type of fluffy Indian pancake/roti that has many layers of thin dough that is crispy and flaky. It is often served with delicious
curries - either made with fish, beef or vegetables. You can also find many varieties of stuffed prata, from simple mashed potatoes to spiced vegetable and meat fillings. Prata Blaster is a unique version that is inspired by
Eggs Benedict, which you can find at Springleaf Prata Place. Other varieties include the
Prata Tissue, Prata Plaster (topped with fried egg) and even Prata topped with chocolate sauce or condensed milk. Although Prata could be extremely filling and so, so, scrumptious, you will find that it doesn't cost much. And surprise surprise, it was also listed on
World’s Best Foods by CNN. Thasevi Famous Jalan Kayu Prata Restaurant, Causarina Curry and Prata Wala are some of the well-known restaurants to get delicious pratas in Singapore.
10) Epok-Epok
Image Credit: Singapore Shiok
Epok-Epok is a traditional curry puff - a parcel of flaky, buttery pastry dough encasing a curried filling of vegetables and meat - with potatoes and sardines being the most common fillings. Singapore’s version of epok-epok also comes with boiled eggs. Epok-epok is one of the most popular breakfast snacks, easy to find, easy on the wallet, and easy to eat! You can find some of the best Halal epok-epok at Old Chang Kee and Tip Top Curry Puff.
Now that you have this list, don't forget to try at least one of them while you're in Singapore!
